Prime minister's hockey book to hit store shelves in early November

Stephen Harper can soon add another line to his resume: published author.The prime minister's book on the history of hockey, shown in a handout photo, is set for a Nov. 5 release. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Simon & Schuster

2013-09-04 13:59:00

OTTAWA - Stephen Harper can soon add another line to his resume: published author.

The prime minister's book on the history of hockey is set to hit store shelves Nov. 5.

Titled "A Great Game: The Forgotten Leafs and the Rise of Professional Hockey," the tome looks at the early years of the game.

It will also feature photographs of famous arenas and the game's earliest star players.

"Drawing on extensive archival records and illustrations, histories of the sport, and newspaper files, A Great Game delves into the fascinating early years of ice hockey," publisher Simon and Schuster Canada said in a release Wednesday.

"It tells of the hockey heroes and hard-boiled businessmen who built the game, and the rise and fall of legendary teams pursuing the Stanley Cup."

Harper has spent years on the book, reportedly setting aside a few minutes each day to work on it. He is a member of the Society of International Hockey Research.

The prime minister is known to be a big hockey fan and regularly attends NHL games—although the Toronto-born Harper remains coy about his favourite team.

All Harper's proceeds from the sale of the book will go to the Canadian Forces Personnel and Family Support Services.